Shuttlecock



J. E. WOLF SHUTTLECOCK Sept. 23, 1958 Filed Dec. 3, 1956 INVENTOR. James Z5". T Voif' QTYOENEYS United States Patent SHUTTLECOCK James E. Wolf, Altoona, Pa., assignor; to R. S. L. Shuttlecocks Co., Ltd., Altoona, Pa., a corporation of Penn- .sylvania Application'December 3, 1956, SeriaLNo. 625,858

8 Claims. (Cl. 273-106) This invention relates'to badminton shuttlecocksam moreparticul'arly to a noveFhead' construction tlieref'or.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shuttlecock having a novel head construction which provides the required weight of the head without destroying the resiliency of the head.

This is accomplished by providing weighting members or posts projecting from the interior surface of the hollow head and preferably axially of the head with the free ends of the weighting members in unconnected relation so that they are free to move and will not dampen or restrict the action of the head in play.

Preferably, the head is molded as a relatively thin shell of plastic material and can be formed integrally with the vane of the shuttlecock or as a separate head which is adapted to be connected to the vane. The weighting members can be formed integrally with the head and can be properly located within the head so that the required weight and resiliency of the head can be achieved.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the shuttlecock.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shuttlecock taken along lines 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the head taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional 'view showing a separate head connected to the vane.

As shown in the drawings, the shuttlecock of the present invention comprises a head portion and a vane portion 11. The vane construction can be of any desired form. As herein illustrated the vane comprises an inner skirt 12 and an outer latticed skirt formed by stems 13 connected by cross ribs 14. The head, as shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, has a relatively thin wall 15 and is formed with a hemispherical bottom portion 16 which merges into a cylindrical upper portion 17 adapted to be connected to the skirt 12 of the vane. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the inner end of the head has projected from its interior surface a plurality of weighting members 18 herein illustrated as cylindrical posts which project inwardly of and are located within the head.

While the head may be made in any desired manner, in the preferred form of the invention it is molded of a suitable thermoplastic material, such as nylon, polyethylene or the like, and is provided on the outer surface of the hemispherical portion 16 with ribs 19 to provide the required friction surface. The weighting members or posts are formed integrally with the head and extend axially of the head. As shown in Fig. 2, they may be made of any desired diameter as may be required to produce the required weighting. They can be a solid post as indicated at 18a or a hollow post 18b, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Also, the posts may be located in any desired pattern such as in concentric circles as shown in Fig. 3.

.A .feature of the invention resides .in the: fact that the .inner .orv free ..ends-.of .the posts are unconnected so-,

shown in Figs. 1-3 or the head can be molded-asa' separateelementhaving a collar 17a at the .upper en'd of the..cylindr:ical. wall: 17 adapted to fit around acooperating. sleeve. 12a onthe innerskirt 12 of the vane as shown in Fig, 4;

Variations. and; modifications. may be. made within the scopeof :the. claimsandportionssof .the improvements maybe .used .without others.

l. A head for a badminton shuttlecock adapted to be connected to a vane portion comprising a hollow hemispherical end portion of resilient material having a short cylindrical portion adapted to be connected to said vane portion, and a plurality of weighting members of substantial cross section connected to the interior surface of the end portion to project inwardly therefrom with the inner ends thereof unconnected whereby the proper weighting is obtained without a reduction in the resiliency of the head.

2. A head for a badminton shuttlecock adapted to be connected to a vane portion comprising a hollow hemispherical end portion of resilient material having a short cylindrical portion adapted to be connected to said vane portion, and a plurality of integral weighting posts connected to the interior of the end portion to project inwardly thereof with the inner ends thereof disposed within the head and being unconnected whereby the proper Weighting is obtained without a reduction in the resiliency of the head.

3. A head for a badminton shuttlecock adapted to be connected to a vane portion comprising a hollow hemispherical end portion of resilient material having a short cylindrical portion having a collar at the edge thereof adapted to be connected to said vane portion, and a plurality of spaced, integral weighting members connected to the interior surface of the end portion to project inwardly thereof with the inner ends thereof unconnected whereby the proper weighting is obtained without a reduction in the resiliency of the head.

4. A molded plastic head for a badminton shuttlecock adapted to be connected to a vane portion comprising a thin walled body having a hollow hemispherical end portion and a short cylindrical portion adapted to be connected to said vane portion, and a plurality of spaced, integral weighting members molded integrally with the end portion to project inwardly thereof, with the inner ends of said members unconnected whereby the proper weighting is obtained without a reduction in the resiliency of the head.

5. A molded plastic head for a badminton shuttlecock adapted to be connected to a vane portion comprising a thin walled body having a hollow hemispherical end portion and a short cylindrical portion adapted to be connected to said vane portion, and a plurality of spaced axially extending posts molded integrally with the end portion to project inwardly thereof with the inner ends of said posts unconnected, said posts providing proper weighting of the head without a reduction in the resiliency of the head.

6. In a badminton shuttlecock having a head and a connected vane portion, the improvement wherein said head comprises a hollow hemispherical end portion of resilient material having a short cylindrical portion connected to the vane portion of the shuttlecock, and a plurality of spaced, integral weighting members connected .Ratented. Sept. 23, 1.958:

to the interior surface of the end portion to project inwardly thereof with the inner ends thereof unconnected whereby the proper weighting is obtained without a reduction in the resiliency of, the head.

7. In a badminton shuttlecock having a head and a connected vane portion, the improvement wherein said head comprises a hollow hemispherical end portion of resilient material having a short cylindrical portion short cylindrical portion adapted to be connected to the vane portion of the shuttlecock, and a plurality of axially extending, annularly positioned weighting posts molded integrally with the interior of the end portion with the inner ends thereof unconnected and disposed within the head whereby the proper weighting is obtained without a reduction in the resiliency of the head.

References Cited'in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,629,364 Scholly May 17, 1927 2,359,726 Booty Oct. 3, 1944 2,761,685 Lashley Sept. 4, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,704 Great Britain 1894 889,867 France Oct. 18, 1943 476,373

Canada Aug. 28, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CQRRECTIUN Patent No, 2,853,302 September 23, 1958 James E, Wolf It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below,

Column 2, lines 51 and 52, claim 4, for "spaeed, integral Weighting" read spaced, Weighting Signed and sealed this 16th day of December 1958,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL AXLJENE ROBERT C, WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

